This genre is normally not my thing at all, more so these days: as enjoyable as their combat might be, I always find these types of games lack a gameplay loop that is engaging enough for me to keep coming back, which coupled with a frequent heavy focus on multiplayer and a long runtime, make it a good example of an anti-me title, something I may end up playing for a couple matches and never even give another thought again.

Fight Night Champion fixes quite a chunk of that for me. A main way in which it does so is that it uses the boxing loop not as its central gravitas, but as a means to tell a contained, short, compelling story, rooted in a somewhat classic tale of revenge and perseverance in a world that insists on spitting at your face. The game immediately throws you into the thick of its gameplay and narrative, with no ifs and buts, which was a nice surprise. There’s a clear Rocky-inspired vibe to the whole thing, seen everywhere from the main antagonist to how the epic music kicks up a notch when you land a proper punch, and this vibe keeps fuelling your willingness to continue, much in the same way as you’d want to continue watching a Rocky film until the end. It’s quirky in a nostalgic throwback sort of way, and I for one really appreciated it for what it was.

Of course this is, at the same time, still a boxing game at heart, which means the story could only go so far if the gameplay wasn’t solid. But Fight Night Champion nails that as well. Combat is considerably more brutal and fast-paced than I had foreseen, which was a satisfying realisation. One of my pet peeves in current boxing or MMA titles is that, in an attempt to simulate realism, they often feel too sluggish and unengaging to me. But this game’s fights feel realistic enough without forfeiting the fun factor: they’re punchy, they’re visually aggressive, and I really enjoy how they often handle boss battles by having different requirements through different rounds or stages, which adds a nice extra layer of variety and specific challenge.

Fight Night Champion doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel, and in 2023, it’s perhaps best seen as a refreshing product of its time. There are a couple things I had an issue with - namely a slight repetitive feel (which luckily never translates to boredom because of the short nature of the game) and some silliness in a couple of boss fights -, but the game is certainly a no-frills, balls-to-the-wall romp that is easy to recommend even - better yet, especially - to the non-fighting crowd. 7.5/10